Ouvrage Lembach

Ouvrage Lembach is a petit ouvrage of the Maginot Line. Lembach is adjoined by petit ouvrage Grand Hohekirkel at some distance to its west and gros ouvrage Four-à-Chaux immediately to its east. It faces the German frontier, and was part of the Fortified Sector of the Vosges. During the Battle of France in 1940, the German 215th Infantry Division broke through the line of smaller fortifications to the west of Lembach, but did not directly attack. After aerial bombardments, Lembach surrendered with the rest of the Maginot fortifications according to the terms of the Second Armistice at Compiègne. After the war Lembach was renovated for further use, but was abandoned by the 1970s.Design and constructionThe site was surveyed by CORF, the Maginot Line's design and construction agency; Lembach was approved for construction in July 1931. The petit ouvrage was to be expanded in a second phase of construction, planned but not carried out, envisioned the addition of an 81mm mortar turret and new, separate munitions and personnelentries.DescriptionLembach comprises an entry block, two infantry blocks and one observation block. A small entry block exists near Block 1, with underground barracks and service areas along the gallery that links the combat blocks. Block 1: Infantry block with two GFM cloches, one twin machine gun cloche and one machine gun (JM)/47mm anti-tank gun embrasure (JM/AC47).Block 2: Infantry block with two GFM cloches, one twin machine gun cloche and one machine gun (JM)/47mm anti-tank gun embrasure (JM/AC47).Block 3: Infantry block with one GFM cloche, two twin machine gun cloches and one observation colche (VDP).Entry: Entry block with two automatic rifle embrasures.